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Online article by Katherine Preston

Communication and emotion are caught up in such a delicate dance, and some of it isn’t pretty.

The ability to be heard by others, to listen to what the world has to offer each day, to share readily and easily one’s memories, experiences, opinions and dreams—all contribute to a sense of social completeness and belonging, to feelings of contentment.

The reverse is also true. Emotional responses to communication disorders—how we react to the continual threat of being isolated from friends, family, colleagues and peers—can run a complex gamut, sometimes over the course of a single day. Sometimes we accept, other times we might get frustrated, angry or really depressed.

Originating in a well-received ASHA convention session, Katherine Preston’s powerful piece profiles two people who stutter who confronted the darkness at the extreme end of this cascading emotional spectrum. With the help of speech-language pathologists, Scott Palasik and Tim returned to the light.

Announcement ELSA Youth Meeting 2014

19-25 July 2014: The 9th ELSA Youth Meeting, The Netherlands

The European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA) is holding a Youth Meeting in July 2014 at a location in the centre of The Netherlands. This is ELSA’s 9th Youth Meeting, the first being in Linköping at the time the World Congress in 1995, the second in Nijmegen in 1997, the third in Mullsjö, Sweden in 2000 and the fourth, fifth, and sixth again in Nijmegen in 2003, 2005 and 2007, the seventh and eight were in Giggleswick in 2009 and 2011.

A letter is addressed to the Boards/Committees and offices of every European National Stuttering Association inviting them to nominate up to four people between 18 and 27 years old who stutter to participate in the Youth Meeting.

The meeting will be 6 days starting Saturday evening 19 July and finishing Friday morning 25 July. The Meeting will consist of workshops, lectures, presentations, social outings and many other activities. The title of the Youth Meeting is, because of it’s connection with the World congress of 2013 :

TO ALL NATIONAL STUTTERING ASSOCIATIONS OF EUROPE

Dear Colleagues,

The 9th ELSA Youth Meeting, at Loosbroek, near ‘s Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, 19-25 July 2014.

The European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA) is holding a Youth Meeting in July 2014 at a location in the centre of The Netherlands. This is ELSA’s 9th Youth Meeting, the first being in Linköping at the time the World Congress in 1995, the second in Nijmegen in 1997, the third in Mullsjö, Sweden in 2000 and the fourth, fifth, and sixth again in Nijmegen in 2003, 2005 and 2007, the seventh and eight were in Giggleswick in 2009 and 2011.

This letter is addressed to the Boards/Committees and offices of every European National Stuttering Association inviting you to nominate up to four people between 18 and 27 years old who stutter to participate in the Youth Meeting.

The meeting will be 6 days starting Saturday evening 19 July and finishing Friday morning 25 July. The Meeting will consist of workshops, lectures, presentations, social outings and many other activities. The title of the Youth Meeting is, because of it’s connection with the World congress of 2013 :

“See no Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil”

Breaking Taboos around Stuttering

The meeting is aimed at young people who stutter who are thinking about volunteering to work for, or thinking of being a Board member of, their National Stuttering Association (NSA). At the meeting the young people will:

Be able to network with other European people who stutter ,

Learn about the work of the NSAs,

Understand how worldwide and European legislation can help the NSA’s and what young people can do to help people who stutter of all ages,

Learn how the use of online social media can raise awareness of stuttering.

The delegates will be able to share fears, frustrations and triumphs, practice their speech techniques in a secure environment and engage in speaking experiences that they would otherwise shy away from. It is hoped that the meeting will inspire the delegates to participate in the work of their own association, raise awareness of stuttering and importantly provide for personal development.

The Youth Meeting will take place at a refurbished farm complex. The place is very comfortable and has great facilities indoor as well as outdoor, and is located in the heart of the beautiful Dutch countryside.

There are 32 spaces for young people who stutter. Nominations will be on a first come first served basis.

Due to a positive financial outcome of the World Congress 2013 in The Netherlands, the organisational body of the World Congress is funding a very large part of the cost of this meeting with ELSA funding the balance.

The main organizers of the congress, Maartje Borghuis and Richard Bourgondiën, both attendees at the fourth ELSA Youth Meeting at Nijmegen in 2003. Because of all the experiences they have gained during that meeting and since then, they have decided to host this ELSA meeting in The Netherlands.

The cost of the meeting is 125 EURO for the six days, this includes 3 meals per day starting with Saturday dinner and finishing with Friday breakfast.

All delegates will be able to claim a refund of 50%, with a maximum of 110 EURO of their travel costs, based on budget flights with early bookings.

We would like to request your board to support the participants financially as an investment in the future of your National Stuttering Association. Many former ELSA YM participants have become board members in the past years.

Accordingly, each National Association is asked to nominate four people and below are some guidelines:

Nominations for four people are required, two boys and two girls (of which 1+1 as reserves) to ensure a gender balance.

The young people have to be between 18 and 27 years old on 19 July 2014. The nominations should be made in a fair way. All people who stutter should be informed of the proposed Youth Meeting and the availability of funding. The choice of delegates each Association makes has to be fair. The delegates should be a member of their Stuttering Association.

All delegates must be able to speak and understand some English, this doesn’t have to be perfect, as English will be the working language. Each delegate will be expected to give some short presentations and will be expected to play a large part in the activities. Full respect will be given to each person’s speech.

Delegates who attended previous Youth Meetings or who don’t meet the age criteria are not eligible at this stage, but could be nominated as reserves. Should there be a shortage of applicants we will open the Youth meeting to these people.

Each delegate will be expected to make their own way to the train station in the city of Oss. Oss is around a 90 minute train journey from Schiphol. From there, a bus transfer will be provided to the meeting location.

Each delegate must arrange for their own comprehensive travel and personal insurances.

The refund of the travel expenses will be paid after successful completion of the meeting.

Further details will be sent to each delegate after nomination and with more information nearer the time of the meeting.

Delegates may like to take a look at the ELSA web-site www.stuttering.ws click onto “Youth Meetings” where information on the 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 Youth meetings can be viewed. On the website there is additional information for delegates on what to expect at the Youth Meeting

The application form is available at www.stuttering.ws/ym2014. Queries can be sent to the name and address below.

Because of planning for the holiday season, we’d like to request you to spread this information along your members as soon as possible, through your newsletter, website, social media, etc.

We look forward to receiving your nominations.

Yours sincerely,

Anita S. Blom (S), Edwin J. Farr MBE (GB), Richard Bourgondiën (NL)

For and on behalf of the European League of Stuttering Associations

NB – To young people who stutter who are interested – If you see this notification on the internet or elsewhere please contact, and join, your national stuttering association if you want to be nominated.

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